RIP, Sylvia Robinson ...

From Tom Taylor:

Sylvia Robinson put many voices on the radio, including hers, as the artist who recorded the suggestive “Pillow Talk” in 1973. In the 1950s, she was part of “Mickey & Sylvia”, which had hits like the much-covered “Love Is Strange.” But Robinson will be most remembered for being an entrepreneur and producer – “the mother of hip-hop.” As the New York Times recalls, she was “facing financial ruin” with her All Platinum record label in 1979, when she thought of recording some local club rappers under the name “the Sugar Hill Gang.” “Rapper’s Delight” opened the door for 30 years of music to come, and Robinson kept going by signing Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, who had an influential 1982 hit with “The Message.” Robinson died yesterday at 75.